Automated banking machine currency tracking system

ABSTRACT

An automated banking machine ( 10 ) includes a user interface ( 12 ) including an opening ( 20 ). Users of the machine deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine through the opening. Stacks of sheets may include sheets such as notes, checks or other documents. Stacks input to the machine may include mixtures of various types of sheets. The machine operates to receive notes, process checks and perform other operations. Notes received in the machine and assessed as valid may be recycled and dispensed to other users. Notes assessed by the machine as being of questionable validity may be marked with a removable mark and subjected to further analysis. Checks processed by the machine may be imaged by an imaging device, cancelled and stored in the machine or alternatively returned to a user. Documents produced by the machine such as receipts, checks or money orders as well as notes dispensed from the machine may be assembled into a stack within the machine and delivered from the machine through the opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/349,202 filed Jan. 15, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application No.60/338,919 filed Nov. 5, 2001.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to automated banking machines. Specifically, thisinvention relates to an automated banking machine and which delivers andreceives documents such as currency notes and identifies suspect notesfor analysis and handling.

BACKGROUND ART

Automated banking machines are known in the prior art. A common type ofautomated banking machine is an automated teller machine (ATM). ATMs maybe used by individuals to receive cash from their accounts, to paybills, to transfer cash between accounts, and to make deposits. CertainATMs also enable customers to deposit checks, money orders, travelerschecks, or other instruments. Such ATMs sometimes have the capability ofcreating an electronic image of a deposited instrument.

ATMs may also provide various types of sheets to customers. Such sheetsinclude currency bills that customers withdraw from the machine.Customers may also receive sheet materials such as money orders, bankchecks, scrip, stamps or other sheet materials stored in or produced bythe machine. Customers may also receive from an ATM a printed sheetwhich is a receipt indicating the particulars of the transactions theyhave conducted at the machine. In addition customers may request andreceive from some ATMs a more detailed statement of transactionsconducted on their account.

Some ATMs have several different locations on the machine where sheetsare received from or delivered to a customer. For example, most machinesinclude one area for delivering cash to a customer and another area forreceiving deposits. More than one deposit receiving area may also beprovided for different types of deposits. For example, an ATM may haveone opening for receiving envelope deposits, and a separate opening forreceiving negotiable instruments, such as checks. ATMs may also have aparticular area for delivering receipts to the customer. If the machinehas the capability of printing a complete account statement on largerpaper an additional area may be provided where statement sheets aredelivered.

Having different areas on the customer interface of an ATM to receiveand provide different types of sheets is required because each type ofsheet is processed by a different mechanism within the machine. Each ofthese mechanisms has its own separate access to the customer. This makesmachines with different features substantially different from othermachines and adds complexity to their operation. Providing severaldifferent passageways and transports for receiving and providing sheetmaterials to customers also adds complexity and cost to a machine.

While the drawbacks associated with multiple sheet delivery andreceiving openings is easily appreciated with regard to ATMs, otherautomated banking machines have similar drawbacks. For example themachines used by bank tellers to count currency received from customersare generally totally different machines than those used to dispensecurrency that is to be provided by the teller to a customer. Separatemachines are also often provided for receiving and imaging checks andother types of negotiable instruments and documents of value. Often aseparate terminal is provided to print a statement or record of atransaction for a customer.

Automated banking machines which accept documents such as currency notesare also becoming more common. In some such automated banking machines,a document such as a currency note may be received from a customer andassessed for validity by devices within the machine. If the presentednote is determined to be valid, it may be stored in the machine andlater dispensed to the same or another customer requesting to receivenotes from the machine.

Such automated banking machines may occasionally receive invalid orsuspect documents. When this occurs the document is generally rejectedby the machine. In some circumstances it may be desirable in the case ofa counterfeit document to remove the document from circulation and/or toidentify the person presenting it for purposes of investigating thesource of counterfeit documents. Also in some cases the documentspresented may generally appear to be valid but do not meet therequirements for acceptance by the machine. However, even though suchdocuments presented may most likely be valid, the machine may rejectthem because they do not meet all of the criteria set for anunequivocally valid document which is suitable to be accepted, storedand later dispensed by the machine.

Thus there exists a need for an automated banking machine and systemthat has the capability of receiving and dispensing documents such asnotes, which has the capability of accepting and identifying invalid andsuspect notes, which is capable of providing information that may beused to identify and preserve such notes and which provides the abilityto contact the entity responsible for presenting the notes to themachine.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention toprovide an automated banking machine.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which has a simplercustomer interface.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which has a singleopening for receiving and providing various types of sheets anddocuments.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which performs aplurality of banking transaction functions and which has a compactphysical size.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine that may be morereadily configured to provide different banking functions.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine that is economical tomanufacture and operate.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine that accepts anddelivers various types of banking documents in a stack from and tocustomers, respectively.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which is capable ofassessing the validity of deposited documents.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which is capable ofmarking suspect and/or invalid documents in the machine.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which enables trackingof a suspect or invalid document with regard to the source of thedocument.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which is capable ofmarking a suspect document with a removable mark which can be removedfrom the document if the document is later determined to be valid.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which marks a suspectdocument accepted in the machine with an indicator which corresponds toa particular transaction, account and/or user associated with placingthe suspect document in the machine.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine that marks a suspectdocument with a removable machine readable indicator.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide an automated banking machine which is usable inconnection with an assessing operation which is capable of evaluatingsuspect documents to determine validity and of removing marks fromdocuments determined to be valid.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide a method for operation of an automated bankingmachine system.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide a method of operation of an automated bankingmachine system in which invalid and/or suspect documents deposited in anautomated banking machine are identified.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide a method in which suspect documents deposited in anautomated banking machine are identified with a removable marking andthe marking is removed after the validity of the deposited document isverified.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide a method by which persons responsible fordepositing invalid documents in an automated banking machine may becontacted.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to provide a method by which documents deposited in anautomated banking machine which are determined to be invalid are trackedto the particular entity responsible for depositing such documents inthe machine.

Further objects of exemplary embodiments of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following Best Modes for Carrying Out Inventionand the appended claims.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in an exemplary embodiment by anautomated banking machine having a transport which moves sheets orstacks of sheets along a first transport path. The first transport pathextends from a user accessible opening on an interface of the machine.The machine also includes an internal second transport path fortransporting sheets. The second transport path meets the first transportpath at an intersection. A sheet directing apparatus is positionedadjacent to the intersection. The machine further includes at least onesheet dispensing device and at least one sheet accepting device fordispensing and receiving sheets, respectively. The sheet dispensing andreceiving devices are in operative connection with either the first orsecond transport paths.

In operation of the exemplary machine a stack of sheets which may,include various types of documents is received from a user is moved fromthe opening along the first transport path. As the stack passes theintersection the sheet directing apparatus is selectively operative toseparate a sheet from the stack and direct the sheet into the secondtransport path. Once in the second transport path the separated sheetmay be handled individually for processing or storage in the machine.Passing the stack through the intersection enables selectively removingsheets from the stack in response to operation of the sheet directingapparatus.

Sheets dispensed or otherwise held in the machine are enabled to beassembled into a stack by moving a sheet in the first transport path. Asheet in the second transport path is moved to the intersection incoordinated relation with the first sheet. The first and second sheetsengage in aligned relation and form a stack in the first transport pathas the sheets move through the intersection. Additional sheets areselectively added to the stack as the stack is thereafter again movedthrough the intersection while successive sheets are brought to theintersection through the second transport path. Various types of sheetsare selectively assembled into the stack in the operation of themachine. Control circuitry operates the components of the machine toassemble the stack. Once the stack is assembled, it is delivered to theuser by passing it along the first transport path to the user opening.

In some exemplary embodiments data may be acquired and stored which isusable to determine the individual users who have provided and/orreceived particular sheets from the machine. This may enable the machineto determine the source or disposition of suspect notes for example.Alternatively or in addition, exemplary embodiments may limit thedispense of documents such as checks, money orders or cash from themachine to particular individuals to reduce the risk of money launderingor other illegal or fraudulent activity. Other exemplary embodiments mayinclude other or additional features.

In some exemplary embodiments, documents placed in the machine areassessed for validity through operation of the machine. Documentsassessed as valid are stored in the machine in appropriate storagelocations. In some embodiments such documents may be later dispensed tousers of the machine during transactions that include the dispense ofsuch documents. Deposited documents that are assessed as invalid in someembodiments may be marked by a marking device in the machine with apermanent mark. The permanent mark may correspond to at least a portionof an indicator associated with the particular transaction in which theinvalid document was deposited. Such indicators may include for examplea transaction number, account number, user number, indicia correspondingto a biometric feature of the person depositing the document or otherusable indicia or combinations thereof. Such indicators may in someembodiments be human readable, machine readable or both. In someexemplary embodiments such invalid documents which are permanentlymarked may be stored within the machine for later recovery and deliveryto proper authorities. Such delivery may be accompanied by informationconcerning the transaction or user responsible for presenting eachinvalid document.

In some exemplary embodiments, documents assessed to be of questionablevalidity but which are most likely valid may also be accepted in themachine. In some such embodiments documents determined to be ofquestionable validity may be marked by a marking device which provides aremovable mark on the document. The removable mark may include at leasta portion of an indicator associated with the transaction or transactiondata. The removable mark may likewise be machine readable, humanreadable or both. In some exemplary embodiments such a marked documentbecause it is determined to likely be valid, may be accepted and storedin the machine and the entity responsible for depositing the documentmay be granted a provisional credit for the deposit.

In some exemplary embodiments such questionable documents may be storedfor later removal from the machine. Upon such removal the documents maybe subject to an assessing operation to determine if the document is infact valid. Such an assessing operation may be conducted manually,through operation of a machine, or both. In an exemplary embodiment theremovable mark does not interfere with assessing the document forvalidity and remains on the document during the assessing operation. Ifthrough the assessing operation the document is determined to be valid,the removable mark may be removed from the document and the documenteither returned to circulation or otherwise appropriately dealt with. Inthe exemplary embodiment if the document is determined to be invalid,the indicator is used to determine the entity responsible for depositingthe document. If a credit has been previously granted for deposit of thedocument, the user given the credit is notified and the credit revoked.In some exemplary embodiments the marked document may be maintained anddelivered to appropriate authorities along with information concerningthe transaction for purposes of investigation.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein areexemplary and many other embodiments are encompassed within the scope ofthe claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of an exemplary automated banking machineincluding some features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the automated banking machine shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of the automated bankingmachine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of a first transport path and a secondtransport path in the automated banking machine.

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view of a transport used in theautomated banking machine.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a sheet moving from the secondtransport path to the first transport path through an intersection.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the sheet moved into the firsttransport path from the intersection.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 7 with the sheet moving in anopposed direction through the intersection.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 8 with the sheet held in aholding device.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the sheet moving in theintersection and engaging a second sheet being delivered through thesecond transport path, the second sheet engaging in aligned relationwith the first sheet to form a stack.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 10 in which the stacked pairof sheets have passed through the intersection.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 11 in which the stackedsheets are held in the holding device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the first and second transport paths withthe sheet directing apparatus operating to separate a first sheet from astack as the stack passes through the intersection.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 13 showing the sheetseparating from the stack as the stack passes through the intersection.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the first and second transport pathsshowing a sheet being reoriented by a sheet turnover device.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a sheet passing through a secondintersection between the first transport path and a third transportpath.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the first and second transport paths witha deposit envelope passing therethrough.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing the first, second and thirdtransport paths, with a sheet moving from the holding device to thethird transport path.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the first,second and third transport paths with additional holding devices in thefirst transport path.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing the first and second transport pathswith a sheet moving from the second transport path to the firsttransport path, and schematically demonstrating how the sheet directingapparatus is used as part of a sheet turnover device.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the first,second and third transport paths used in an alternative automatedbanking machine in which two user interfaces and user accessibleopenings are provided.

FIG. 22 is a side view of an automated banking machine housing thetransport apparatus schematically shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing a sheet separating from or adding toa stack as the stack passes through an intersection.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing an exemplary system in which suspectand/or invalid documents deposited in an automated banking machine areprocessed.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown therein an automated banking machine generally indicated 10.Machine 10 is an ATM. However, other embodiments of the invention may beother types of automated banking machines. ATM 10 includes a user orcustomer interface generally indicated 12. Customer interface 12includes a touch screen 14. Touch screen 14 is of a type known in theprior art which serves as both an input device and an output device. Thetouch screen enables outputs through displays on the screen and enablescustomers to provide inputs by placing a finger adjacent to areas of thescreen.

Customer interface 12 further includes a keypad 16. Keypad 16 includes aplurality of buttons which may be actuated by a customer to provideinputs to the machine. Customer interface 12 further includes a cardreader slot 18. Card slot 18 is used to input a card with encoded datathereon that is usable to identify the customer and/or the customer'saccount information. Card slot 18 is connected to a card reader of aconventional type for reading data encoded on the card. Other exemplaryembodiments may include types of input devices other than a card readerand/or a keypad. Some embodiments may include input devices such asbiometric readers that may be operative to receive customer identifyinginputs such as fingerprints, iris scans, retina scans, face topographydata, voice data or other inputs that provide data that is usable toidentify a user. An example of an ATM that uses biometric input devicesand other types of input devices is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,688 thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Customer interface 12 further includes an opening 20. Opening 20 aslater explained, is used to receive stacks of sheets or documents from acustomer operating machine 10. Opening 20 is also used to deliver stacksof documents to customers operating the machine. Although opening 20 isshown exposed in FIG. 1, it should be understood that in otherembodiments it may be selectively covered by a movable gate or similarclosure structure. It should be understood that these features of thedescribed ATM user interface are exemplary and in other embodiments theuser interface may include different components and/or features.

As shown in FIG. 2 machine 10 has a generally divided body structurewhich includes a chest portion 22. Chest portion 22 in the exemplaryembodiment is preferably a secure chest and is used for holding items ofvalue such as currency or deposits. Chest portion 22 has a door 24 whichcan be selectively opened to gain access to the interior of the chestportion. Door 24 preferably includes a combination lock or other lockingmechanism (not shown) which prevents the chest portion from being openedby unauthorized persons.

Machine 10 further includes an upper enclosure portion 26. The upperenclosure portion has components of the customer interface 12 thereon.The customer interface portion 12 includes a fascia 28. Fascia 28 ispreferably movably mounted on the upper enclosure portion 26 and may beselectively opened to gain access to components housed in the upperenclosure portion. A locking mechanism (not shown) is preferablyincluded in the upper enclosure portion of the exemplary embodiment forpreventing unauthorized persons from gaining access to the interiorthereof.

As shown in FIG. 3 machine 10 includes a plurality of devices forcarrying out banking transactions. It should be understood that thedevices discussed hereafter are exemplary and that additional ordifferent devices may be included in other embodiments of the invention.

The interior of ATM 10 is schematically shown in FIG. 3. The exemplaryATM includes devices for handling sheets such as notes and otherdocuments. ATM 10 includes sheet dispensing devices, document producingdevices and sheet receiving devices. Among the sheet dispensing devicesare currency dispensers 30 and 32. Currency dispensers 30 and 32 may beof the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,747, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein, which selectively dispense sheets one at a time inresponse to control signals. Currency dispensers 30 and 32 may includeremovable sheet holding containers or canisters which include indiciathereon. The canisters may be interchangeable and of the type shown inU.S. Pat. No. 4,871,085, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.The indicia on the sheet holding canisters may be indicative of the typeand/or properties of sheets held therein (i.e. currency type anddenomination) and the indicia is read by a reading apparatus when thecanister is installed in the machine.

The exemplary ATM may operate in response to the indicia on thecanisters to adjust the operation of the dispensers to conform to thecanister contents and position. In the exemplary embodiment the sheetholding canisters and other devices, may include indicia of the typeshown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,085. The information represented by theindicia is read by the reading apparatus and the resulting signalstransmitted to the machine control circuitry. The control circuitryadjusts operation of the sheet dispensing and receiving devices inresponse to the signals to conform to the type and character of thesheets held in the various canisters.

In the exemplary embodiment of machine 10 shown in FIG. 3, the machinepreferably includes a note handling mechanism including sheet receivingand delivering devices 34, 36 and 38. The exemplary sheet receiving anddelivering devices may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,000,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The sheetdelivering and receiving devices may enable receiving and storing sheetsin selected compartments as well as selectively delivering sheets fromthe various compartments. As can be appreciated from the incorporateddisclosure, some of the note handling mechanisms may receive and storenotes only, others may dispense notes only and some may both receive anddispense notes. Other mechanisms may process sheets of types other thannotes. Machine 10 further includes an envelope depository schematicallyindicated 40. Depository 40 is a device configured to accept and holdrelatively thick sheet-like deposit envelopes deposited by customers inthe machine.

Depository 40, currency dispensers 30 and 32 and sheet receiving anddelivering devices 34, 36 and 38 are all positioned within the chestportion 22 of the machine 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the sheetdispensing and receiving devices, except for the depository, in theexemplary embodiment may be interchangeably positioned in the machine.The control circuitry adjusts operation of the machine accordingly basedon the device positions and the indicia on the canisters or devices.

Each of the currency dispensers 30 and 32, sheet receiving anddelivering devices 34, 36 and 38, and the depository 40 are incommunication with a sheet transport path generally indicated 42. Sheettransport path 42 comprises a plurality of sheet transports which arealigned and in operative connection through a rear area of the chestportion. Sheet transport path 42 may include one or more sheettransports of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,638, the disclosureof which is incorporated herein. Each of the depository 40, currencydispensers 30 and 32 and sheet receiving and delivering devices 34, 36and 38 are in operative connection with the sheet transport path 42, andare enabled to deliver sheets to and/or receive sheets from the sheettransport path 42.

Sheet transport path 42 extends through an opening (not shown) in thechest portion 22 of the ATM chest. Wiring that connects componentslocated in the chest portion with components in the upper enclosureportion 26 also extends through an opening in the chest portion and isconnected to control circuitry, schematically indicated 44. The controlcircuitry 44 preferably includes at least one processor in operativeconnection with at least one memory or data store, and is operative tocarry out programmed instructions based on data stored in the memory.The control circuitry in the exemplary embodiment operates the machineto carry out the operations hereinafter described.

Upper enclosure portion 26 includes the fascia 28 and the customeraccessible opening 20. A first transport path generally indicated 46extends inside the machine from opening 20. First transport path 46preferably includes an interwoven belt type transport of the type shownin U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,599, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference. A transport of this type is schematically shown in FIG. 5 andis generally indicated 48.

Transport 48 includes a plurality of spaced first rolls 50 and aplurality of intermediate spaced second rolls 52. Rolls 50 and 52, whichare preferably crowned rolls, support elastomeric belts thereon. Firstrolls 50 support first belts 54 and second rolls 52 support second belts56. Belts 54 and 56 extend longitudinally in the transport 48.

A stack of sheets schematically represented by sheet 58 in FIG. 5, movein engaged relation with belts 54 and 56 in the transport as describedin the incorporated patent disclosure. The configuration of transport 48enables transporting stacks having varied numbers and types of sheets,as well as transporting passbooks and other forms of stacked sheets. Thetransport of the exemplary embodiment is useful because of its abilityto transport sheets of various types, having varied thicknesses andfrictional properties while minimizing skewing.

Referring again to FIG. 3, first transport path 46 intersects withtransport path 42 at a first intersection, generally indicated 60. Ashereinafter explained the exemplary embodiment comprises a separatingmechanism that separates sheets individually from a stack and a stackassembly mechanism that produce a stack of documents. In the exemplaryembodiment, sheets are selectively stacked and unstacked while movingthrough first intersection 60 to enable processing of sheets within themachine 10.

Upper enclosure portion 26 also includes various sheet producing,dispensing and/or receiving devices. These dispensing and receivingdevices may include dispensers or devices for receiving or dispensingsheets similar to those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,747 or U.S. Pat.No. 6,331,000, and may include removable canisters for holding sheetstherein. Such removable canisters may also include indicia of the typedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,085, which are read by apparatus withinthe machine. The control circuitry may be operative to control theoperation of the machine in response to the indicia.

Devices 62 and 64 may serve as part of a document producing device andmay hold sheets such as blank receipt or statement forms. Alternatively,one of such canisters may hold blank instruments which must becompleted, such as scrip forms, money orders or travelers checks. Afurther sheet dispensing device 66 may dispense documents that need tobe completed before dispense documents that need to be completed beforedispense such as bank checks or documents that are dispensed withoutfurther processing such as plates of stamps.

A sheet receiving device 68 is also preferably included in the upperenclosure portion. Sheet receiving device 68 may be used for holdingsheets such as checks or other instruments, which have been input by acustomer to the machine and which have been imaged and/or canceledthrough processing in the machine.

The exemplary upper enclosure portion further includes at least oneprinting device schematically indicated 70. Printing device 70 may beused for selectively printing on sheets under control of the controlcircuitry. In the exemplary embodiment the automated banking machineincludes marking devices. Such marking devices may comprise one or moreprinting devices such as device 70. Such a marking device may be used toprovide a removable marking on a document. Such removable markings maycomprise removable ink. Such removable ink may be visible or nonvisibleink. In some embodiments the marking device may provide a mark that isvisible only when exposed to radiation within a certain frequency range.This may be for example a marking that becomes visible only when exposedto ultraviolet light. The removable markings in some embodiments mayinclude numbers, symbols, patterns or designs or any other human ormachine readable indicia that correspond to data or some other feature.

In some alternative embodiments the marking device for providing aremovable mark to documents within the machine may include a devicewhich applies a removable self adhesive label. Such a label may beprinted or otherwise produced by an appropriate device within themachine and then applied to documents. Of course in some embodiments,combinations of types of marking devices may operate to apply differenttypes of markings to documents in a machine.

In addition or in the alternative exemplary embodiments may include adevice for applying a permanent marking to documents. Such permanentmarking may include marking with a permanent ink, label or otherindicia. Such permanent marking may also include permanently modifyingor damaging a document such as by punching holes, shredding or otherprocess which provides a generally permanent indication on the document.It should be appreciated that multiple types of marking devices may beprovided in various embodiments depending on the operations to becarried out by the machine. In addition other embodiments may includedevices for applying permanent or temporary markings different fromthose that are discussed herein.

An imaging device schematically indicated 72 is also included in theexemplary machine. Imaging device 72 is preferably of the type whichenables reading and generating an electronic image of a document, suchas that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,682 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,413 thedisclosures of each of which are incorporated as if fully rewrittenherein. In some embodiments an imaging device may operate in conjunctionwith the control circuitry to produce signals which comprise anelectronic representation of an image of a check or other instrument.The electronic representation may include all or selected portions ofone or both sides of the sheet. For example in some situations it may besuitable to obtain an electronic image of alphabetic, numerical and/orother symbols or features on the check. For example such data may beanalyzed using character recognition software such as softwarecommercially available from Check Solutions Inc., A2ia or othercompanies to determine the maker, amount and/or other data pertinent tothe check for purposes of receiving and/or cashing the check.

In some embodiments printing devices, marking devices or other devicesmay also serve as part of a cancellation device. Such a cancellationdevice may serve to print or otherwise mark checks or other documentsreceived by the machine. For example, the machine may mark as cancelledchecks which are received and processed by the ATM. In some embodimentssuch checks or documents may be marked through operation of thecancellation device and then stored in a check storage location in themachine. In other embodiments the cancellation device after the documenthas been imaged, may mark the document to indicate that it has beencancelled and return the cancelled document to the user of the machine.In some embodiments one or more such cancelled documents may beassembled in a stack in a manner hereafter discussed, when returned to auser. Cancelled documents may also be returned in an assembled stackwith other documents such as a receipt for the transaction and/or notesdispensed by the ATM as a result of cashing the check. In someembodiments cancelled checks may be shredded, compacted or otherwisemarked to avoid any fraudulent use. The control circuitry may alsooperate to store data corresponding to the check and the identity of theuser of the ATM providing the check to the machine in one or more datastore for purposes of record keeping. For example the data store maystore data corresponding to the check with the data that corresponds toa user's account number, biometric data, photograph or other data usableto identify a user. Of course these approaches are exemplary and otherapproaches may be used.

In some embodiments the control circuitry may operate to check the useridentity data before cashing one or more checks. The control circuitrymay also be programmed to limit the risk of check cashing byunauthorized persons and/or to reduce the risk of money laundering. Forexample before cashing a check the control circuitry may operate tocompare data corresponding to the characters identifying the payeeindicated on the check to other input data corresponding to the user ofthe machine and/or to the characters on the check comprising theendorsement. If the payee, user and/or endorsement data does notcorrespond, the control circuitry may operate so that the check is notaccepted or cashed. Further the control circuitry may operate todetermine the amount and/or nature of checks the particular user haspresented at the ATM and/or within a prior time period. The ATM may alsooperate to communicate with other computers in a network to determinethe amount or nature of checks presented by the user at other ATMs. Ifthe user's check presenting activities fall outside certain establishedprogrammed parameters, such that the user's activities may be indicativeof theft of the check or money laundering, for example, the ATM mayrefuse the transaction.

In the alternative and/or in addition a user presenting a check may berequired by the control circuitry to provide at least one biometricinput. This may be done even in circumstances where the user may beidentifiable by data on a card or another manner. The biometricidentification data may be compared to stored data and used to evaluatethe check cashing activities of this particular user. A determinationmay be made by the control circuitry or by a remote computer todetermine if the activities fall outside the established parameters suchthat the current transaction is suspicious and not permitted. In thisway a user with multiple cards and/or multiple identities may beprevented from conducting transactions that might be suspicious in termsof theft or money laundering. Of course some embodiments may alsooperate to cross check biometric data with data on a debit or creditcard or other item or other device presented by the user to the ATM toprovide greater assurance as to the identity of the user. Of course inother embodiments other approaches may be used.

The exemplary handling devices 62, 64 and 66, as well as the sheetreceiving device 68, of the ATM are all in communication with one ormore transports. These transports may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,342,165, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, or othersuitable sheet transport devices. The sheet transport devices form asheet transport path 74. Sheet transport path 74 extends to transportpath 46 and meets transport path 46 at a second intersection 76.

The upper enclosure portion may also include additional or otherdevices. Such devices may include a journal printer as schematicallyindicated by rolls 78. The journal printer is used to make a paperrecord of transactions conducted at machine 10. Electronic journals mayalso be made by the control circuitry and stored in memory. Otherdevices which may be included in the machine are other types of documentproducing devices, audio output devices, customer sensors, cameras andrecorders, biometric sensing devices and other apparatus suitable foruse in the operation of the particular type of automated bankingmachine.

Transport paths 42, 46 and 74 of the exemplary machine are shown ingreater detail in FIG. 4. Although the transports and operation thereofare described in detail it should be understood that they are merelyexemplary of devices which may be used and the claimed invention is notlimited thereto. Transport path 46, which includes one or moretransports of the interwoven belt type shown in FIG. 5. The transportpath has therein a plurality of first belts 80 which extend betweenfirst rolls 82 and 84. First rolls 82 and 84 are selectively driven by areversible drive, schematically indicated 86.

Second belts 88 extend between a second roll 90 and rolls 92, 94 and 96.Second belts 88 are driven by a second reversible drive schematicallyindicated 98. As shown in FIG. 4, roll 96 is selectively movable forpurposes which are later explained. Of course it should be understoodthat the belts and rolls shown in the first transport path 46 areactually a plurality of spaced belts and rolls of the type shown in FIG.5.

First transport path 46 further includes a further transport section100. Transport section 100 is similar to the transport shown in FIG. 5and includes a plurality of third belts 102 journaled on spaced rolls104 and 106.

Rolls 106 have positioned adjacent thereto a plurality of holding rolls108. Rolls 108 are positioned in spaced axial intermediate relation ofthird belts 102. This configuration imparts a wave configuration tosheets and stacks of sheets in a manner comparable to that imparted tosheets held by transport 48 as shown in FIG. 5. Holding rolls 108 andtransport section 100 are independently driven by reversible drives (notshown) under the control of the control circuitry 44.

Adjacent to first intersection 60, where sheet path 42 meets sheet path46, is a sheet directing apparatus generally indicated 110. Sheetdirecting apparatus 110 includes sheet engaging rolls 112 and furtherrolls 114. Rolls 112 and 114 have resilient belts 116 mounted thereon.It should be understood that rolls 112 and 114 are driven by one or moreindependent reversible drives (not shown) under control of the controlcircuitry 44. It should be understood that rolls 112 and 114 and belts116 in FIG. 4, represent a plurality of such belts and rolls which arepreferably disposed in intermediate relation between the lower flightsof first belts 80.

Transport path 42 further includes transport 118 which is adjacent todepository 40. Transport 118 includes a plurality of rolls which drivebelts 120 in response to a reversing drive (not shown). Rolls 122 whichare engaged with belts 120, as well as rolls 124 which are independentlydriven by one or more reversible drives (not shown), are positioned inthe sheet path 42 adjacent to rolls 114 and 96. The purpose of thisconfiguration is later discussed in detail.

As schematically represented in FIG. 4 transport path 46 includessensing devices. These sensing devices are in operative connection withthe control circuitry 44, and operate to sense features of sheets andstacks of sheets in the sheet transport path. A thickness sensorschematically indicated 126 is preferably provided for sensing thethickness of sheets, stacks of sheets, or sheet like deposit envelopesthat move along transport path 46. Indicia reading devices 128 and 130are preferably operative to sense indicia on sheets and envelopes movingin the transport path. The sensing devices may include photo reflectivedevices, magnetic sensing devices or other appropriate devices fordistinguishing features of currency, various types of negotiableinstruments and/or deposit envelopes. For example in some embodimentsthe sensing devices in combination with the control circuitry or othercircuitry in the machine may comprise a validating device or assessingdevice for assessing the validity of notes or other documents. Anexample of such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,413 thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein.

In some embodiments the validating or assessing device may additionallyor alternatively be operative to identify individual notes. For example,the validating device may produce through algorithms one or moredistinctive values that are generally uniquely associated with aparticular note. In addition or in the alternative, the validatingdevice may include character recognition capabilities which enabledetermination of the serial numbers or other unique charactersassociated with particular notes. This may enable some embodiments ofthe machine to store in correlated relation in at least one data store,data that uniquely identifies a note input to the ATM and the particularuser who provided the note to the machine. This may enable the ATM toidentify a particular suspect note and capture the information on theuser who provided it to the machine. The particular type, position andcapabilities of sensing devices and/or validating devices used in aparticular machine will depend on the characteristics and types ofdocuments which are intended to be processed by the machine.

In some exemplary embodiments the assessing device may operate in themanner of the incorporated disclosure to assess the validity ofdocuments such as currency notes deposited in the machine. In responseto a note being assessed as valid, the machine may operate in accordancewith the programming of the control circuitry to store the valid note inan appropriate location within the machine. In some exemplaryembodiments this location may be in a storage location in which the notemay be stored and from which the note may be subsequently dispensed to auser of the machine in the course of a transaction in which such a noteis required. This may be for example dispensing cash to a subsequentuser of the machine who requested cash withdrawal as part of thetransaction. This occurs after the transaction of the user whichresulted in the note being deposited in the machine.

In some exemplary embodiments a document may be identified as invalid.This may be based on the fact that the document has properties of aknown counterfeit note. The control circuitry of the machine may beprogrammed to identify such notes. In such circumstances exemplaryembodiments may be programmed to cause the invalid note to be marked byone or more marking devices. In some exemplary embodiments the markingprovided by the marking device may be a permanent mark or a removablemark. In some exemplary embodiments the mark may include at least aportion of an indicator which is associated with the transaction. Thisindicator may include a transaction number which is unique to theparticular transaction in which the invalid document was deposited.Alternatively or in addition, the indicator may be indicia associatedwith an account of a user of the machine on whose behalf the invaliddocument was presented. Alternatively or in addition, the note may bemarked with indicia corresponding to a biometric identifier associatedwith the particular user who deposited the document. Of coursecombinations of such markings may be applied. Further such markings maybe wholly or partially in machine readable form such as bar code. Inaddition or in the alternative, such markings may include visible and/ornonvisible ink, the application of a label or other marking so as toidentify the invalid document and to associate it with information whichenables the source and/or circumstances related to the deposit of thedocument in the machine to be tracked or determined.

In an exemplary embodiment invalid documents are stored in a firststorage location in the machine for later removal and study. Also in theexemplary embodiment the information concerning the indicator or otherdocumentation may be stored in a data store in the machine and/ortransmitted to one or more remote computers in a network. Suchinformation may be used for purposes of notifying the entity responsiblefor operating the machine such as a bank, an entity responsible for thecustomer and/or account into which the invalid document was attempted tobe deposited and/or appropriate authorities who are responsible forissues related to counterfeit currency or other invalid documents. Inalternative embodiments a document determined to be invalid may bepermanently marked so as to render it plainly unsuitable to be furtherpassed and then returned to the user.

In some exemplary embodiments documents that are assessed by the machinemay be assessed as likely to be valid, but of such questionable validitythat the assessing device cannot provide assurance of document validity.In an exemplary embodiment when a document is determined to be ofquestionable validity, the control circuitry operates the automatedbanking machine to mark the document with a removable mark. Thisremovable mark may include an indicator associated with the transaction,the user or other circumstances as previously discussed. The removablemark may comprise visible or nonvisible markings including markings ininks or other materials that are only visible when exposed to radiationwithin a certain frequency range. Such marking may also or alternativelyinclude machine readable indicia, information corresponding to abiometric feature of the user or other data which may be correlated withthe transaction, account or user. In some exemplary embodiments theremovable marking may include water soluble ink or other material thatcan be relatively readily removed by appropriate washing agents in theevent that the note is eventually determined to be valid. In addition orin the alternative, the removable marking device may employ a removablelabel or other indicator that may be applied in a semi-permanent fashionbut removed as necessary if the deposited document is subsequentlydetermined to be valid.

In some exemplary embodiments the automated banking machine upon receiptof a document of questionable validity, may operate in conjunction withremote computers to provide the account user or upon whose behalf thedocument is presented with a credit for the deposited document. In suchexemplary embodiments the credit may be subject to confirmation orrevocation upon further assessment of the document for validity during asubsequent assessing operation which is later described.

First various sheet manipulating and processing operations performed bythe exemplary automated banking machine of the described embodiment arenow explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 6–21.

FIG. 6 shows a sheet 132 moving through the intersection 60 of the firstsheet path 46 and sheet path 42. Sheet 132, prior to reaching theposition shown in FIG. 6, may have been dispensed by one of the sheetdispensing devices positioned adjacent to transport path 42 and movedadjacent to the intersection by one or more transports which make up thetransport path. As sheet 132 approaches the intersection it is engagedby belts 116 of the sheet directing apparatus 110, as well as belts 88.The control circuitry operates the drives which move the belts to workin cooperating relation to move the sheet toward the intersection. Oncethe sheet is passed through the intersection it is engaged between thelower flights of belt 80 and the upper flights of belts 88, and thesheet 132 is carried in the first direction indicated by Arrow A in FIG.6. As will be appreciated from FIG. 4, Arrow A is in the direction ofthe customer opening 20 of the automated banking machine.

As shown in FIG. 7 in the mode of operation currently being described,the structures act as a stack assembly mechanism. Once sheet 132 isfully moved through the intersection in the first transport path 146,movement of the sheet in the first direction is stopped. This isaccomplished by the control circuitry 44 operating the transport drivesin accordance with its program logic stored in memory, and in responseto customer inputs at the customer interface. A sensor schematicallyindicated 134 positioned in the first sheet path senses the position ofthe sheet. Sensor 134 is in operative connection with the controlcircuitry. Sensor 134 may be one of several types of sensors suitablefor sensing the position of sheets, such as a photo reflective typesensor. Once sheet 132 is in the position shown in FIG. 7, belts 80 and88 are stopped.

As shown in FIG. 8, the control circuitry now operates the components ofthe machine to move sheet 132 in a second opposed direction as indicatedby Arrow B. To move sheet 132 through the intersection in the opposeddirection, sheet engaging rolls 112 and belts 116 rotate to preventsheet 132 from passing into the second sheet transport path 42.Transport section 100 is also operated by the control circuitry toengage sheet 132 and move it in the opposed direction. A sheet turnovermember 136 later described in detail, is moved to enable sheet 132 topass roll 82 in the first sheet path.

As shown in FIG. 9 sheet 132 is moved in the second direction until itis engaged between holding rolls 108 and transport section 100. A sensorwhich is schematically indicated 138 is positioned to sense that sheet132 is positioned in the holding device provided by the combination ofholding rolls 108 and transport section 100. Sensor 138 is operativelyconnected to the control circuitry which operates to stop furthermovement of sheet 132 in the second direction when it has reached theposition shown. It should be noted that sheet 132 in this position isheld adjacent to second intersection 76, which is the intersection ofsheet path 74 and sheet path 46.

The next step in the operation of the exemplary stack assembly mechanismis represented in FIG. 10. A further sheet 140 is moved in transportpath 42 toward the intersection 60. Sheet 140 may be dispensed by one ofthe sheet dispensing devices, sheet producing devices or is otherwise inthe path, and is moved toward the intersection. As sheet 140 movesadjacent to the intersection it is engaged by the belts 116 of sheetdirecting apparatus 110 as well as belts 88. Sheet 140 is also sensed bya sensor 142 in transport path 42. Sensor 142 is in operative connectionwith the control circuitry. The control circuitry operates to accuratelycoordinate the movement of the sheet 140 in engagement with the sheetdirecting apparatus 110 and belts 88.

As sheet 140 moves toward the intersection 60 the control circuitryoperates to begin moving sheet 132 in the first direction along path 46toward the intersection. The control circuitry coordinates the operationof the drives for the various components so that sheet 140 and sheet 132pass through the intersection 60 in coordinated relation. As a result,sheets 132 and 140 engage in aligned, abutting relation so as to form astack as they move through the intersection 60.

As shown in FIG. 11 once sheets 140 and 132 have passed intersection 60in the first direction, they are in a stack generally indicated 144. Asschematically indicated in FIG. 11, in this mode of operation sensor 144is operative to sense passage of the stack through the intersection andthe control circuitry is operative to stop movement of the stack in thefirst direction in response to signals from the sensor. After sheets 132and 140 have combined to form stack 144, additional sheets may be addedto the stack. This is accomplished by moving the stack 144 in the seconddirection similar to that which is done with sheet 132 previously, asrepresented in FIG. 8. Stack 144 is moved to the position shown in FIG.12 in which it is held by the holding device formed by holding rolls 108and transport section 100. Thereafter, additional sheets may be added tothe stack by passing sheets on transport path 42 and engaging suchsheets in aligned relation with the stack in a manner similar to thatrepresented in FIG. 10.

It will be appreciated that a stack comprising a significant number ofgenerally aligned and abutting sheets may be formed in the mannerdescribed. Because the sheets are selectively dispensed from thedispensing devices and/or sheet producing devices adjacent to transportpath 42, the sheets may be stacked in a desired order as determined bythe control circuitry. For example, sheets which are currency notes maybe stacked in order from highest to lowest denomination, or vice versa.Particular sheets may be placed in a desired location within the stack.Once the stack has been assembled in the desired manner by the controlcircuitry of the machine, it may be moved in first transport path 46 tothe opening 20 so it may be taken by a customer.

It should also be noted that in the position of stack 144 shown in FIG.12, the stack is positioned in the holding device formed by holdingrolls 108 and transport section 100 adjacent to intersection 76.Intersection 76 is the intersection of transport path 46 and transportpath 74. Transport path 74 extends to the devices housed in the upperenclosure portion 26 of machine 10.

As schematically represented in FIG. 16, a sheet 146 may be moved fromone of the devices adjacent to sheet path 74 to engage the stack 144 atintersection 76 as the stack moves in the first direction. This enablesadding sheets to the stack which are housed in the sheet dispensingdevices and/or document producing devices adjacent to sheet path 74. Thestack formed by the addition of sheets from sheet path 74 may be movedthrough sheet path 46 to the customer.

It will be understood that sheets from sheet path 74 may be deliveredindividually through intersection 76 into sheet path 46, and maythereafter be added to a stack formed at intersection 60 in a mannersimilar to that previously described. It should also be understood thatsheet path 74 includes appropriate sensors that are operativelyconnected to the control circuitry. The control circuitry operates sothat sheets from the sheet path 74 may be added to a stack in engaged,aligned relation with the other sheets in the stack as the sheets passthrough intersection 76. As a result the associated structures operateas a further stack assembly mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 15, exemplary machine 10 further includes thecapability of taking sheets in the first sheet path and turning themover using a turnover device. This may be done as shown in FIG. 15,through the use of sheet turnover member 136. Exemplary sheet turnovermember 136 comprises a member including arcuate guides or tinesconforming to the contour of rolls 82. When the turnover member ispositioned adjacent to rolls 82, such as in FIG. 15, a moving sheet 148is caused to be turned over from the position of the sheet in the firstsheet path 46. This is accomplished by moving sheet 148 in the directionof Arrow C in FIG. 15. In the exemplary embodiment the upper beltflights of belt 80 are part of a sheet path generally indicated 150.Sheet path 150 extends adjacent to printing device 70 and imaging device72 shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the sheet may be selectively moved intosheet path 150 for purposes of conducting printing or marking thereon,such as by a marking or cancellation device, for producing an electronicimage of the sheet by an imaging device, or both. Of course other ordifferent functions may be performed including devices for making apermanent mark or a removable mark on documents.

Once the marking, printing or imaging activity has been conducted on thesheet in sheet path 150, the sheet may be returned to the first sheetpath 46. Once the sheet 148 is returned to the first sheet path it maybe selectively moved to one of the other sheet paths 42 or 74. Fromthese sheet paths it may be directed into and stored in an appropriatesheet storage device or location in the machine. Alternatively, sheet148 may be selectively moved to be combined in a stack with other sheetsat intersections 60 or 76. This may in some embodiments provide for thedelivery of cancelled checks to a user. Such cancelled checks may bedelivered in a stack with other checks, receipts, notes or otherdocuments.

In some embodiments the sheet turnover members 136 may be configured sothat sheets in transport path 150 may be directly added to a stack ofsheets at the intersection of sheet path 46 and the turnover device.This is accomplished by configuring or moving the turnover member sothat the tines in the lower position do not interfere with the passageof a stack of sheets in the first direction past the turnover member.This feature provides yet another stack assembly mechanism and may beparticularly advantageous when a customer receipt is printed on a sheetby the printer in sheet path 150, and it is desired to have the receiptat the top of the stack. This may be achieved by positioning the stackin the holding device formed by holding rolls 108 and transport section100, and moving the stack in the first direction to the right in FIG. 15as the printed receipt sheet is engaged in aligned relation with the topof the stack as the stack moves toward opening 20.

It should be understood that in other embodiments, sheets from paths 74and 42, as well as from path 150, may all be added to a stack as thestack moves from the holding device provided by transport section 100and holding rolls 108, in the first direction toward the customer. Thiscan be readily envisioned from the schematic view shown in FIG. 16 withthe stack 144 moving to the right as shown, and sheets being added tothe stack as the stack passes roll 82 and again as the stack movesthrough intersection 60. As will be appreciated by those skilled in theart, numerous configurations and operations of the system may beprovided depending on the functions carried out by the machine as wellas the programming and configuration of the control circuitry.

It should be understood that other sheet turnover devices, other than,or in addition to turnover member 136, may be provided in otherembodiments. For example, in FIG. 18 a directing member 152 is shown incooperating relation with roll 108. Directing member 152 is selectivelymovable between the position shown, wherein it is adjacent to roll 108and the position shown in phantom. As represented in FIG. 18, when thedirecting member 152 is in the position shown it is operative to directa sheet 154 that is held in the holding device formed by transportsection 110 and holding rolls 108 into transport path 74. Sheet 154 maybe moved in transport path 74 to a sheet handling device for storagetherein in the manner previously discussed.

Alternatively, turnover of the sheet 154 may be accomplished by movingit into transport path 174 and thereafter disposing directing member 152away from roll 108. Once this is done, sheet 154 may again be directedinto path 146 and moved to the right as shown in FIG. 18 so that sheet154 will move in a manner comparable to that of sheet 146 shown in FIG.16. This will result in the orientation of sheet 154 being reversed insheet path 46 from its original orientation.

The components adjacent to intersection 60 may also be operated as asheet turnover device. This is represented schematically in FIG. 20.This is accomplished by having a sheet 156 initially positioned in thefirst sheet path similar to sheet 132 in FIG. 7. The sheet is then movedinto the second sheet path at intersection 60 by operating the sheetdirecting apparatus 110 in a manner that is later discussed in detail.Once sheet 156 is in the second sheet path, the direction of belts 88and 116 is reversed while the lower flights of belt 80 are moved to movethe sheet in the second direction indicated by Arrow B. This results inthe sheet being turned over from its original orientation in thetransport.

It should be further understood that sheets which originate in transportpath 42 may also be directed in the manner shown in FIG. 20. Thisfeature enables selectively positioning sheets and turning them overthrough a number of different mechanisms. This enhances the capabilitiesof the exemplary automated banking machine.

A further useful aspect of the exemplary embodiment is that it includesa separating mechanism for separating sheets from a stack as representedschematically in FIGS. 13 and 14. The exemplary embodiment shownincludes the capability of selectively separating a sheet from a stackof sheets as the stack passes through the intersection 60 of transportpath 46 and transport path 42. As schematically represented in FIG. 13,a stack of sheets 158 moves in the direction indicated by Arrow B intransport path 46. Although stack 158 is shown as a stack of foursheets, it should be understood that the stack may comprise a greater orlesser number of sheets. Stack 158 may be a stack of sheets receivedfrom a user of the machine through opening 20 and may consist ofdifferent sheet types. For example in some embodiments stacks acceptedin the machine may include stacks of mixed notes, checks and/or othertypes of sheets

As stack 158 moves toward intersection 60 the control circuitry of themachine operates sheet directing apparatus 110 so that rolls 112 and114, and belts 116 journaled thereon, move relative to the stack in adirection opposed to the direction of stack movement. As a result ofthis movement by the sheet directing apparatus, a first sheet 160 whichbounds a first side of the stack, is frictionally engaged by belts 116and is stripped and separated from the stack. The first sheet 160 isdirected into the sheet path 42 as the stack which comprises theremaining sheets continues on path 46. This enables sheet 160 to behandled separately by the devices adjacent to path 42, or to be laterbrought individually back to path 46 for individual transport to devicesadjacent to other paths.

It should be noted that the sheet handling stacking and unstackingmechanisms described in the exemplary embodiment are but examples ofdevices for handling documents such as notes, checks, or other sheetswithin an automated banking machine. In other embodiments other sheethanding and transport mechanisms may be used.

It should be noted that in the exemplary embodiment a sensor 162 ispositioned adjacent to path 42. Sensor 162 may be a photo electricsensor connected to the control circuitry for sensing the position ofthe sheet. Alternatively, sensor 162 may comprise a plurality of similaror different sensors adapted for sensing features of a sheet. Sensor 162may be part of a validation or accessing device such as that previouslydiscussed that is suitable for determining note type and denomination.This enables the control circuitry to properly identify a currency sheetand place it in a designated note handling mechanism, storage positionor other the sheet receiving device. Sensors 162 may alternativelyoperate in connection with the control circuitry or other circuitry toprovide a validation mechanism or assessing device to determine orassess the genuineness of a sheet. In other embodiments other featuressuch as magnetic ink indicia, bar coding and other features mayadditionally or alternatively be detected by one or more sensors forpurposes of identifying the type, nature an/or properties of a sheet asit moves adjacent the sensors.

As previously mentioned, in some embodiments the validation device maybe operative to identify particular sheets, such as by serial number orother characteristics. In some embodiments such information may bestored for suspect notes, and in others for all or certain selectedcategories of notes. Such data concerning individual notes may be storedin a data store in correlated relation with information usable todetermine the identity of the user who provided the note to the machine.Other data may be stored as well, such as for example, the storagelocation or position where the note is stored in the machine or otherinformation that can be used to recover the particular note and/or todocument the transaction.

In some embodiments the machine may hold in a data store, identifyinginformation related to notes for purposes of comparison to notesprovided to the machine. This may include in some embodimentsinformation corresponding to properties, characteristics or numbersassociated with known counterfeit or invalid notes. Such informationused for comparison may also include identifying data for individualnotes already deposited in the machine. Thus for example, if a noteprovided to the machine is individually identified by determining theserial number, the serial number may be compared through operation ofthe control circuitry to stored data for serial numbers of knowncounterfeits. Alternatively or in addition, the serial number of thenote provided to the ATM may be compared to serial numbers for notespreviously deposited or input in the machine. In the event of a match ineither example the control circuitry would act in response to theapparent suspect note in accordance with its programming. This mayinclude capturing and storing the suspect note, marking the note,capturing additional data about the user presenting the suspect note,notifying authorities or taking other action.

In embodiments where identifying data on all notes is captured and usedfor comparison, the control circuitry may operate to indicate when thenote has been dispensed out of the machine. This may include for exampledeleting the information about the note such as its serial number fromthe data store upon dispense. Alternatively such indication may includestoring the information indicative that the particular note has beendispensed. The information about the note dispensed may in someembodiments be stored in correlated relation with information unable toidentify the user who received the note from the machine. Of courseother approaches may be used in other embodiments and the approachesdiscussed with regard to notes may also be applied to other types ofdocuments.

Returning to the discussion of the operation of the separatingmechanism, after sheet 160 is separated from the stack 158 as shown inFIG. 14, the control circuitry may operate the transports in the firstpath 46 to move the remaining stack to a position to the right of theintersection 60. If it is desired to separate an additional sheet fromthe stack, the remaining sheets may be moved through the intersectionagain in the direction of Arrow D to accomplish separation of the sheetthat is newly bounding the side of the stack. Alternatively, if thecontrol circuitry determines that it is not necessary to separate afurther sheet from the stack, the sheet directing apparatus may beoperated so that belts 116 and rollers 112 and 114, move in the samedirection as rollers 92 and at a similar speed. This will result in thestack passing through the intersection without a sheet being separatedfrom the stack.

It should be understood that while in the embodiment shown the sheetdirecting apparatus comprises a plurality of rolls having resilientsurfaces thereon that move at a relative speed that is less than thespeed of the moving stack, in other embodiments other types of strippingand separating devices may be used. These may include for example,resilient pads or rolls. Such devices may also include resilient suctioncup type mechanisms or vacuum generating devices. Further alternativeforms of sheet directing devices may include other physical members thatengage selectively one or more sheets so as to direct them from path 46into another path 42.

It should also be noted that in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS.13, 14 and 23, sheets may be separated from a stack as the stack movesfrom right to left. However, in other embodiments it may be desirable toarrange the sheet directing apparatus so that sheets may be separatedfrom a stack when the stack moves in either direction. This may bereadily accomplished through arrangements of resilient rollers or otherstripping devices or members which may be selectively actuated to engageand separate a sheet upon passage of a stack through an intersection.This configuration may have advantages in other embodiments wheregreater speed in sheet separation is desired.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, in some bankingmachines it may be desirable to process certain sheets individually. Forexample, if it is determined that a sheet separated from a stack is acheck or other negotiable instrument that must be transferred to theimaging device, or an invalid note or note of questionable validity thatshould be transported to a marking device, it may be desirable to cleara path which enables the sheet requiring such handling to be transportedindividually. This can be accomplished by disposing the stack of sheetsthat are not currently being processed individually away from the singlesheet in first path 46. In this manner the sheet requiring individualhandling can be transferred to path 150 or such other location as may benecessary without causing the remaining stack to undergo transport to anundesirable location.

A further alternative to facilitate individual handling of particularsheets is represented by the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 19. Inthis embodiment path 46 includes three separately controlled transportsections 164, 166 and 168. Transport section 164 is similar to thetransport previously discussed, except that its belts terminate at rolls170 and 172. Transport section 166 may include an interwoven belttransport similar to that shown in FIG. 5 with the exception that itsbelts are offset from those in transport section 164. Transport section166 may be driven by one or more independent reversible drives fromtransport section 164. The drive for transport section 166 is inoperative connection with and operates under the control of the controlcircuitry.

Transport section 166 terminates in rolls 174 and 176. Rolls 174 and 176are coaxial with other rolls that are spaced intermediate thereto thatare part of transport section 168. Transport section 168 terminates atrolls 178 and 180 which are adjacent to a customer accessible openingindicated 182. Transport section 168 is operated by at least oneindependent reversible drive in response to the control circuitry.

Transport sections 166 and 168 along path 46 provide locations in whichdocuments or stacks of documents may be temporarily stored as otherdocuments are routed through intersections 60 and 76. After thenecessary processing is done on the individual documents, the documentsthat are temporarily stored in the transport sections 166 and 168 may bemoved to other transport sections for further processing. It should beunderstood that transport sections 166 and 168 include appropriatesensors for sensing the positions of the documents being temporarilystored therein which enables the control circuitry to coordinatemovement thereof.

A further advantage of the exemplary embodiment described herein is thatnot only may the automated banking machine 10 accept individualdocuments and stacks of documents from a customer, but it may alsoaccept conventional deposit envelopes. As shown in FIG. 17 a thick sheetlike deposit envelope 184 may be moved along path 46 from a customer.The identification of the deposited item as a deposit envelope may bemade based on readings from sensors 126, 128 or 130 as shown in FIG. 4,or alternatively or in addition based on customer inputs through one ormore input devices at the customer interface 12 of the machine.

Deposit envelope 184 moves in transport path 46 in the direction ofArrow E as shown in FIG. 17. Upon determining that the item moving inthe transport path is a deposit envelope, the control circuitry operatesthe sheet directing apparatus 110 to direct the envelope into transportpath 42. The control circuitry also enables roll 96 and belts 88 to movein the direction indicated by Arrow F. This causes the flight of belt 88to move to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 4. This enables theenvelope to move into the depository device 40 (see FIG. 3) in which itmay be stacked in aligned relation with other envelopes. Further thecontrol circuitry may also operate transport 118 and rolls 124 shown inFIG. 4 to assure that envelope 184 does not pass further along sheettransport path 42 than the depository 40.

The ability of the embodiment of the automated banking machine to handledepository envelopes, stacks of sheets and individual sheets, providesenhanced functionality for the machine. The ability of the exemplaryembodiment to accept thick items in the area of path 42 adjacent to theintersection, also enables the control circuitry to use the areaadjacent to the intersection as a temporary storage location for stacksof sheets. This may be desirable in some embodiments where a receiptform is delivered on transport path 74 and must be directed to transportpath 150 for printing thereon before being combined with a stack to bedelivered to a customer.

The exemplary embodiment of the ATM has the capability of storing theassembled stack of sheets adjacent to intersection 60 in transport path42 until such time as the printed receipt is moved into the intersectionalong first path 46. As the receipt form is produced by a documentproducing device and moved into the intersection 60 by transport section100, the stack is moved into the intersection in coordinated relationtherewith so that the printed receipt is assembled into the stack andpositioned at the top side of the stack. The assembled stack may bemoved along transport path 46 to the opening where it may be taken bythe customer.

In some embodiments the ATM may also operate to provide certain types ofdocuments in exchange for other documents. As previously discussed, someembodiments may receive checks or other instruments, validate the check,and provide the user with currency notes. In some embodiments, a usermay provide notes to the ATM and receive other types of documents suchas money orders, scrip, vouchers, gift certificates or bank checks. Insome embodiments the control circuitry may operate in the mannerpreviously discussed to store information concerning individual notes ina data store in correlated relation with information usable to identifythe user who deposited the notes in the machine. Some embodiments maystore in correlated relation with all or a portion of such data,information which identifies the check, money order or other documentprovided by the machine to the user.

In some embodiments the ability of a single user to provide cash to theATM may be controlled or limited to avoid money laundering or othersuspect activities. For example, a user placing notes in the ATM topurchase money orders or other documents, may be required to provide atleast one identifying input. This may include a biometric input such asa thumbprint for example. Such at least one identifying input mayinclude data on a card or other device a user provides to operate themachine, or may be in lieu thereof or in addition thereto.Alternatively, some embodiments may enable use of the ATM to buydocuments such as money orders, gift certificates or other documentswithout using a card or similar device to access the machine. In somecases a user may exchange notes of certain denominations for notes ofother denominations. In such cases the control circuitry may require atleast one identifying input from the user requesting to exchange cashfor other documents.

The control circuitry may operate in accordance with programmedinstructions and parameters to limit the number or value of documents auser may purchase or otherwise receive. This may include comparing useridentifying data with data input in connection with prior transactions.This may be done by comparing user input data stored in a data store atthe particular ATM, and/or data stored in computers connected to theATM. By limiting the number or value of documents a user can purchasewith cash, either overall, for a particular document or within a giventime period, the risk of illegal activities such as money laundering canbe minimized. Further such systems may more readily enable funds to betracked.

An alternative embodiment of an automated banking machine is indicated186 in FIG. 22. Machine 186 is similar to machine 10 except that itincludes two fascias and customer interfaces designated 188 and 190.Machine 186 is capable of operation by two users generallysimultaneously.

The sheet handling mechanism for machine 186 is indicated 192 in FIG.21. The sheet handling mechanism 192 is similar to that described in thefirst embodiment, except as otherwise noted. Mechanism 192 includes afirst customer accessible opening 194 in customer interface 190, and asecond customer accessible opening 196 in customer interface 188.Customer opening 196 receives and delivers sheets through a transportsection 197. Transport section 197 is preferably an interwoven belt typetransport of the type shown in FIG. 5 and is capable of moving sheets,envelopes and stacks of sheets in engagement therewith. Transportsection 197 is operated by a reversible drive similar to the reversibledrives used for the other belt transport sections, and is in operativeconnection with the control circuitry of the machine.

The operation of the alternative sheet handling mechanism 192 is similarto that previously described except that the sheets, envelopes or stacksof sheets that are processed may be received from or delivered to eithercustomer opening 194 or customer opening 196. Because of the high speedcapability of the exemplary embodiment, it is possible for the sheethandling mechanism 192 to adequately service two users simultaneouslywithout undue delay.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the modificationsnecessary for the sheet handling mechanism of the first embodiment toaccommodate two simultaneous users is relatively modest. In theexemplary embodiment it is possible to increase the number of customerinterfaces on the machine from one to two at a relatively small cost.This is particularly advantageous for an automated teller machinepositioned in a high customer traffic area. It is also useful forautomated banking machines, such as those used by tellers to count anddispense currency notes. This is because the configuration of the sheethandling mechanism enables two tellers or other personnel to be servicedby a single machine.

Exemplary embodiments may operate to assure operation in accordance withthe principles of U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,194, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference as if fully rewritten herein.

FIG. 24 shows schematically an exemplary system 200 and the steps in anassociated method for handling documents such as notes of questionablevalidity or invalid documents or notes that have been received by anautomated banking machine 202. Banking machine 202 may be similar toATMs 10 or 186 previously described or may have a differentconstruction. In the exemplary embodiment the automated banking machineincludes an assessing device for assessing the validity of documentssuch as notes that are deposited by a user into the machine in thecourse of one or more transactions. The assessing device operates aspreviously described in connection with a controller, control circuitryor other devices in the machine to identify documents of questionablevalidity and/or invalid documents.

As can be appreciated from the description herein and the incorporateddisclosure, some notes that are deposited in the machine may bedetermined to be invalid such as a clearly counterfeit note or otherdocument that is not a note. Other documents that are deposited in themachine may be determined through operation of the assessing device tobe more likely than not to be valid notes, but which nonetheless do notqualify as documents which the machine accepts as unquestionably valid.Of course it should be appreciated that the determination as to whatparameters qualify a particular note or other type of document in themachine as unquestionably valid, of questionable validity or invalid mayin some embodiments be set by the operator of the machine and/or byappropriate authorities within the jurisdiction in which the machine isoperated.

In an exemplary embodiment the automated banking machine 202 operates toaccept documents of questionable validity, but marks such documents withat least one removable mark so that each document may be tracked andlater further assessed as valid or invalid. In the exemplary embodimentof the system 200 shown in FIG. 24, the machine 202 communicates througha network 204 with one or more computers which are remotely located.Such remote computers may include computers located at a bank, financialinstitution or other source of monetary value schematically indicated206. A user operating the exemplary ATM 202 generally identifiesthemselves or an account in the manner previously discussed and conductstransactions which may include presenting or receiving documents such asnotes. When a user conducts a transaction on an account, the ATM 202communicates messages through the network 204 to one or more bankcomputers 206 to authorize and record the transaction. Such transactionsgenerally have associated indicia which is stored at the ATM, the bankor other computers in the network, for purposes of documenting thetransaction and settling accounts between users, machine operators,banks and other entities that may be involved in transactions that areconducted. One or more indicators which may be associated with atransaction may include a unique transaction number associated with aparticular transaction in which a document is presented. The transactionnumber may correspond to a transaction at a particular date, time, andATM. Alternatively or in addition an indicator associated with thetransaction may include information on the account of the user or otherentity on whose behalf the transaction is conducted. Alternatively or inaddition an indicator associated with the transaction may includebiometric or other data concerning the particular individual conductingthe transaction or having the account. Of course indicators may comprisecombinations of such information as well as data from other sources.

In an exemplary embodiment when the ATM 202 receives a document which isassessed as being of questionable validity, the control circuitry whichis alternatively referred to herein as a controller or processoroperating in the ATM, is operative to associate such one or moreindicators with the transaction. Further in the exemplary embodiment ofa system 200, the control circuitry is operative to cause the ATM tocommunicate through the network with the appropriate bank 206 to grant acredit to the user for having provided a valid document to the machine.In some embodiments one or more, computers at the bank or otherwiseconnected to the network may further receive from the controller in theATM an indication that the machine has received the questionabledocument from the particular user that requires subsequent assessment.Alternatively or in addition the ATM may provide further informationabout the questionable document for which a credit has been given. Suchinformation may include for example a serial number from the document,an image of the document or other identifying information related to theparticular document which enables the document to be uniquelyidentified. Other information may include transaction informationcorresponding to a particular account, date, time, and ATM. In someembodiments the credit that a user or account receives related to adocument of questionable validity may be specifically indicated by thecontroller in the ATM, the bank or both, as being a provisional creditwhich may be revoked if the document is not later verified as valid.Alternatively in some embodiments the credit granted for a document ofquestionable validity may be the same as that granted for documentsassessed as being of unquestionable validity.

In the exemplary embodiment documents assessed as of questionablevalidity in the ATM are moved in the ATM to a marking device such asprinting device 70. The printing device is operative to place a mark onthe document that is of questionable validity. In the exemplaryembodiment the marking device is operative responsive to the controlcircuitry of the ATM to mark the document with a removable mark. Theremovable mark in some exemplary embodiments may comprise removable inkwhich can be subsequently removed from a document without damaging theinks or other features that are normally required to be on the document.Alternatively the marking device may apply a removable label, sticker orother subsequently removable item to the document which identifies theparticular document as of questionable validity. The marking of adocument may also comprise generating unique identifying informationwhich corresponds to a particular unacceptable document, such ascorresponding to a serial number on a currency note. The particulardocument can be kept separated. The document information can be of asuitable format, e.g., digital images, permitting storage thereof incomputer memory. The stored document information may be comparable toinformation in a database to check for improprieties. For example, aserial number on a currency note may match a serial number in a databasewatch list. Other comparisons may show that the serial number matches adocument that was already destroyed. Other comparisons involvingcomputers in real time may show that the serial number matches adocument currently in another ATM. The comparing may involve a globalcomputer network capable of accurately tracking currency in the domainof banks, governments, etc.

In some exemplary embodiments the removable mark includes at least aportion of the indicator associated with the transaction. As previouslydiscussed such indicators may include all or portions of the uniquetransaction number, account number, user identifying data, biometricdata or other data which is suitable for use by the system. In theexemplary embodiment the indicator provides specific information so thatthe particular document can be later identified and the particular useror entity on whose behalf the document has been placed in the machinecan later be notified and any credit granted for the document revoked ifthe document is later determined not to be valid.

In some exemplary embodiments the marking device is operative to markdocuments assessed as having questionable validity with a markcomprising visible inks which are visible to users under ambientlighting conditions. Alternatively or in addition marks applied todocuments may comprise nonvisible ink or similar materials. In someexemplary embodiments the removable mark may comprise a removable inkwhich is visible or detectable only when exposed to radiation within acertain frequency range. This may include for example exposure toconcentrated ultraviolet light, infrared light or other frequencies.Alternatively or in addition the markings may be comprised of machinereadable indicia such as bar code or other indicia corresponding tobiometric or other data. Of course it should be understood that theseapproaches are exemplary and in other embodiments other types ofremovable marks and indicators may be used.

In operation of the exemplary ATM 202 documents of questionable validityafter being marked with the removable mark, are stored in a firststorage location in the machine. The first storage location in theexemplary embodiment is a location for storing documents which have beenmarked and is a different location than the storage locations which areused to store documents that have been assessed as valid. Thus forexample in an exemplary embodiment documents that are received by themachine from a user in the course of a first transaction which areassessed as being of questionable validity are marked with the removablemark and placed in a first storage location. Other documents which areassessed as valid are stored in one or more appropriate second storagelocations. As a result a document stored in the second location may belater dispensed from the machine to another user in the course of asecond transaction in which the subsequent user requests the dispense ofsuch a document.

In some embodiments the removable mark applied to documents ofquestionable validity is such that the documents may be subsequentlyassessed or later discussed without removal of the mark. This mayinclude for example marking the documents in locations that do notchange or obscure security features or other aspects of the documentsthat must be assessed to determine validity. Alternatively the markingmay be applied in ink or color of a particular type that does notinterfere with a subsequent assessing operation with the removable markstill in place. Of course in other embodiments other approaches may beused.

In exemplary ATM 202 documents that are assessed as invalid by theassessing device are captured by the machine. For such documents thecontrol circuitry and other connected computers do not operate to givethe user or account holder any credit for such documents. In additionthe exemplary ATM 202 includes a device for applying a permanent mark todocuments assessed to be invalid. As previously discussed such markingdevices for applying a permanent mark may include printing devices whichapply a permanent ink or other material to the invalid document.Alternatively the invalid documents may be totally or partially torn,punched or otherwise mutilated so as to be sure that they will not bereadily placed in circulation. In some embodiments informationconcerning the invalid documents may be passed by the machine to thenetwork 204 and to the bank 206. The bank may thereafter communicatethrough one or more communication systems 208 to the proper authorities210 for purposes of investigating the circumstances and the source ofthe invalid documents. Such information may include images of documents,information about the particular user or account associated with depositof the document, or other information that will facilitate theinvestigation of the source and/or circumstances surrounding theparticular document. Of course such an invalid document may also bestored in an appropriate storage location in the machine for purposes oftracking and later transmission to the authorities who investigate thecircumstances related to the presentation of the invalid document. Ofcourse this approach is exemplary and in other embodiments otherapproaches may be used.

As schematically indicated in FIG. 24 in the exemplary system 200documents of questionable validity indicated 212 are removed from theATM machine and transported to an assessing operation schematicallyindicated 214. In some embodiments documents assessed to be invalid aswell as documents assessed to be of questionable validity may betransported to the assessing operation.

It should be appreciated that while the assessing operation 214 of theexemplary embodiment is shown as indicated remotely from the ATMmachine, in some embodiments the assessing operation may be conductedadjacent to or even within the automated banking machine.

In the exemplary assessing operation notes of questionable validity aresubject to an assessing activity schematically indicated 216. It shouldbe appreciated that the assessing activity 216 may involve machinesensing as well as human sensing of the particular document. Asschematically represented by document 218, in the assessing activity thedocument is preferably assessed for validity with the removable mark 220remaining in place thereon. As previously discussed this is facilitatedin some embodiments by locating the removable mark in an area which doesnot include significant security features or by providing the removablemark in an ink or other material that does not interfere with assessingthe validity of the document. Of course these approaches are exemplaryand in other embodiments other approaches may be used.

During the assessing activity, the note or other document ofquestionable validity is reviewed again to determine whether thedocument is valid or invalid. In an exemplary embodiment where thedocument is determined to be valid, the assessing activity through theoperation of one or more computers, processors or other devices,communicates messages to the bank 206 and confirms that the particulardocument is valid. This is represented schematically by a function 222.In response to confirmation that the particular document is valid, thebank 206 or other appropriate entities may take action to remove theprovisional nature of the credit previously associated with the depositof the document. Of course as previously discussed in alternativeembodiments such confirmation may not be necessary as no provision ismade to make the credit provisional.

In the exemplary embodiment the assessing operation is operative toremove the removable marks from the notes assessed as valid. This isrepresented by a function 224. The removal of the mark may include thewashing and drying of notes with appropriate materials so as to removethe removable mark while not damaging the particular document. This mayinclude for example washing the note with a water-based material anddrying the note so as to remove the mark. Alternatively in situationswhere removable labels or other items have been applied such items areremoved in the course of function 224. Of course in some embodimentsparticularly in cases where the mark is not visible to the naked eye, itmay not be necessary to remove the removable mark from the particulardocument. Whether the removable mark is removed will depend on theparticular system, the nature of the mark and the requirement of theparticular entity operating the system or the authorities responsiblefor the document.

The exemplary assessing operation also includes a fitness assessmentfunction schematically indicated 226. The fitness assessment function inthe exemplary embodiment is operative to review the document todetermine if its character is such that it should be returned to generalcirculation or transferred to appropriate authorities to be removed fromcirculation. For example in the case of currency notes that are worn orpermanently marked or disfigured, it may be appropriate to deliver suchnotes for destruction to a central bank or other authority. This willgenerally avoid further circulation of the note and the need to conductsubsequent analysis in the event that the note should again be presentedand assessed to be of questionable validity. Alternatively asschematically represented in FIG. 24, if the document is determinedthrough the fitness assessing function 226 to be suitable to return tocirculation, the document is routed to the operations of the bank orother entity responsible for the assessing operation and may be returnedto circulation. This may include for example placing the document in acassette or other container that may be returned to an automated bankingmachine at which the document may be dispensed in the course ofsubsequent transactions.

In the exemplary assessing operation 214 if the document is determinedto be invalid during accessing activity 216, notice is given to the bankor other entity to revoke the provisional or regular credit. This isrepresented by a function 228. In the exemplary embodiment the assessingoperation is operative to communicate through one or more computers orprocessors with the bank 206 that the particular document has beenassessed as invalid. In response to receiving such notice, the bankoperates to revoke the credit that has been given to the particular useror account holder responsible for presenting the document. Because theparticular user may face problems with their account if they are notmade aware that the credit for the document has been revoked, in theexemplary embodiment the bank 206 notifies the user or account holderthat the provisional credit has been revoked. This step is schematicallyrepresented 230.

When a document has been determined to be invalid, it may also beappropriate for the bank or other entity to notify the appropriateauthorities 210 of the nature of the transaction and/or the invaliddocument. As schematically represented in FIG. 24, in situations wherethe document is assessed as invalid, the document is maintained with themarking thereon as represented schematically by a function 232. Thedocument may be maintained with the removable marking thereon andappropriately segregated to avoid any tampering or subsequentdistribution of the particular document except to the properauthorities. This may facilitate maintaining an accurate chain ofcustody for purposes of conducting an investigation of the user or theparticular circumstances under which the invalid document was presentedto the machine. For example authorities responsible for investigatinginstances of counterfeit currency may need to obtain the marked documentand information related to the transaction and the user for purposes ofinvestigating illegal activity.

Although the exemplary system 200 has been described in connection withdocuments of questionable validity, such a system may also be used withdocuments assessed to be invalid. For example documents assessed asinvalid by the ATM 202 may nonetheless be reassessed in the assessingoperation for purposes of determining if in fact the document is valid.Alternatively in some embodiments documents assessed as invalid may alsobe marked with a removable mark rather than a permanent mark. Likewisein some embodiments all documents of questionable validity or invalidmay be marked with permanent markings. Such markings may be desirable insome circumstances as documents that cannot be assessed as valid may beappropriately marked so as to remove them from circulation. If adocument originally assessed as clearly invalid is determined through anassessing operation to in fact be valid, appropriate messages may besent to the bank or other entities to indicate to the user, accountholder or other authorities, that the document was determined to bevalid.

It should be understood that system 200 is exemplary and in otherembodiments other approaches, devices and method steps may be utilized.

Thus the exemplary embodiment of an automated banking machine andassociated methods of the present invention achieves at least some ofthe above stated objectives, eliminates difficulties encountered in theuse of prior devices and systems, solves problems and attains thedesirable results described herein.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposesand are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the descriptions andillustrations given are by way of examples and the invention is notlimited to the exact details shown or described.

In the following claims any feature described as a means for performinga function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to thoseskilled in the art to be capable of performing the recited function, andnot mere equivalents of the particular means described in the foregoingdescription. The inclusion of an Abstract shall not be deemed to limitthe claimed invention to the features described in such Abstract.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated, and theadvantages and useful results attained; the new and useful structures,devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems,equipment, operations, methods and relationships are set forth in theappended claims.

1. Apparatus comprising: an automated banking machine including at leastone assessing device adapted to assess validity of a document in themachine, and at least one marking device, wherein the marking device isadapted to mark a document with at least one removable mark responsiveto the document being assessed to be of questionable validity, whereinthe machine is operative to transport a marked document.
 2. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the automated banking machineincludes at least one receiving device adapted to receive the documentfrom a user, and at least one transport operative to move the documentin the machine from the receiving device to the at least one assessingdevice.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, and further comprising atleast one storage location in the machine, wherein the machine isoperative to transport a marked document to a storage location forstorage therein.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, and furthercomprising control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is operativeto associate at least one indicator with a transaction in which thedocument is assessed, and wherein the removable mark includes at least aportion of the indicator.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, whereinthe indicator comprises at least one of a transaction number, accountnumber, bar code and indicia corresponding to a biometric feature. 6.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removable mark comprisesremovable ink.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theremovable mark comprises visible ink.
 8. The apparatus according toclaim 7 wherein the removable ink comprises ink visible only whenexposed to light in a certain frequency range.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the removable mark comprises a removablelabel.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least onemarking device is adapted to mark another document with at least onepermanent mark responsive to the another document being assessed asinvalid responsive to operation of the assessing device.
 11. Theapparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one assessing deviceis adapted to assess validity of a currency note in the machine, andwherein the marking device is adapted to mark a currency note with atleast one removable unique identification mark responsive to thedocument being assessed to be of questionable validity.
 12. Apparatuscomprising: an automated banking machine including at least oneassessing device, wherein the at least one assessing device is adaptedto determine a document validity unacceptable to the machine, aninformation generating device, wherein the information generating deviceis adapted to generate unique identifying information relating to adocument in response to the document being unacceptable to the machine,wherein the identifying information corresponds to at least one readableindicating mark on the document, and wherein the identifying informationis unique from other unacceptable document identifying information. 13.The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the information generatingdevice is adapted to mark the unacceptable document thereon with atleast one readable mark related to the information.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 13 wherein the information generating device isadapted to mark the unacceptable document thereon with at least oneremovable mark.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the atleast one assessing device is adapted to determine a currency notevalidity unacceptable to the machine, and wherein the informationgenerating device is adapted to mark the currency note responsive to theat least one assessing device being unable to determine that thecurrency note is genuine.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15wherein the automated banking machine comprises an ATM adapted toreceive a currency note deposit.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 13wherein the information generating device is adapted to mark theunacceptable document thereon with at least one permanent mark.
 18. Theapparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one assessingdevice is adapted to determine a currency note validity unacceptable tothe machine.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein theinformation corresponds to a serial number on the currency note.
 20. Theapparatus according to claim 12 wherein the information generatingdevice is adapted to generate unique identifying information from aserial number of a currency note responsive to the currency note beingdetermined unacceptable to the machine.
 21. Apparatus comprising: an ATMincluding at least one identifying device, wherein the at least oneidentifying device is adapted to identify an unacceptable currency notewithin the ATM, a marking device, wherein the marking device is adaptedto print mark on an unacceptable currency note within the ATM for uniqueidentification of the unacceptable currency note from markedunacceptable currency notes.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 21wherein the ATM is adapted to receive a currency note deposit, andwherein the marking device is adapted to print at least one removablereadable mark on an unacceptable currency note.
 23. Apparatuscomprising: an automated banking machine including at least oneidentifying device, wherein the at least one identifying device isadapted to identify within the machine an unacceptable currency noteassociated with a requested transaction involving the machine, a markingdevice, wherein the marking device is adapted to mark an unacceptablecurrency note within the machine with unique identification, wherein theunique identification includes at least a portion of an indicatorassociated with the requested transaction.